The best soil for growing vegetables

If you want to grow vegetables by establishing your vegetable garden, then you must know the right kind of soil required for vegetables to grow well and produce yields. When soil is too compact and has no required nutrients, seeds fail to germinate. Keep reading to know what is the best soil for a vegetable garden.

Best soil for growing vegetables

In general, vegetables need soil that is loose and well-drained so that the roots can penetrate more easily. Also, the soil must have lots of nutrients and the ability to retain moisture. When lots of organic material is added to the soil, the growth rate and yields that vegetables give improve. At the same time, organic material acts as a sponge and helps moisture to retain in soil.

The three basic nutrients that vegetables need to grow are Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potassium(N-P-K).

To increase nitrogen levels in soil, you can add composted animal manure to the soil.

To increase phosphorous levels in the soil, you can add rock phosphate. Bone meal and groundnut shells also help to improve phosphorous levels in the soil.

To improve potassium levels you can add wood ash. Banana peels also help to increase potassium levels is the soil.

Vegetables also need trace nutrients to grow well. Some of them include Iron, Manganese, Zinc, Calcium and Chloride.

Compost is another organic fertiliser that can be used in vegetable gardens. It is rich in macro and micronutrients that promote plant growth.

Vegetables grow best in well-draining soil that is rich in micro and macronutrients.

Types of soil

1.Loamy Soil

Loamy soil is composed of Sand( 40%), Silt( 40%) and Clay (20%). Veggies grow best in Loamy soil as it drains well and is loose. It also holds sufficient nutrients. 

2. Silt soil

Silt soil has a finer texture. Silt soil is a composition of Clay and Sandy soil. Silt soil has more water-holding capacity and more nutrients. You can add sufficient organic content to increase the soil’s fertility and water-retaining capacity. Since silt soil has a finer texture, it is prone to being washed away easily. Mulching the soil can reduce this.

3. Sandy Soil

Sandy soil is generally coarse in texture. It contains a large percent of sand and less percent of clay. Nutrient levels in sandy soils are low, and sandy soil contains low water retaining capacity. 

Sufficient organic material must be added to improve water retaining capacity and nutrient levels. 

4. Clay Soil

Soil that has more than 25% of clay can be considered clay soil. Clay soil becomes sticky and muddy when wet and turns hard and compact when dry.

Clay soil requires lots of work to make it suitable for cultivating vegetables. Organic material must be added to make it more cultivable. Growing plants that have complex root systems before cultivating vegetables can also be another way. The complex root system of plants breaks down the compact structure of clay soil. Growing vegetables next to these plants help the vegetables to grow faster. 

How to test the type of soil you have

• Take an empty glass jar.
• Go to your garden and dig the soil up to 6 inches deep. Take a handful of that soil and fill half of the glass jar with the soil.
• Add water to the glass jar and stir it well.
• When the mix settles you can find out the type of soil you have. Sand settles down, Clay will float and silt will form a layer between the two.

Soil Ph

The majority of vegetables require a soil Ph between 6 to 7. Acidic soil has Ph less than 7. Alkaline soil has a Ph greater than 7. You can use a Ph tester to find your soil Ph.

Best Soil Mix for growing vegetables

To prepare the soil mix for vegetables take 30 % sand, 60% compost and 10 % garden soil. If you are growing vegetables in containers mix 20 % perlite, 60% compost, 10% vermiculite and 10% sand.

Fertilizing vegetable plants

If you are growing vegetables in the garden, you can fertilize them 2 times during the growing season. If you are growing vegetables in containers you can fertilize them once in 3 weeks.

Conclusion

To conclude the best soil for growing vegetables is fertile sandy loam soil. You can either add organic matter(compost) or chemicals to improve its fertility.

Here is how to make compost for your garden.